UK: BOPP launches new version of the Packhouse Standard

BOPP, the certification scheme for ornamental horticulture in the UK, has released the new version of the Ornamental Horticulture Packhouse Standard. BOPP is an international standard, which sets high standards of professionalism in the way in which certificated businesses operate and through unbiased and effective evaluation, by an United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited Certification Body where applicable, to ensure that these standards are maintained. The ultimate objective is to ensure that customers can have complete confidence in both product and service when dealing with BOPP Certificated suppliers.

Anna Cook, BOPP Scheme Manager, announced the news; “We are pleased to release the new version of the BOPP Ornamental Horticulture Packhouse Standard following a year of intensely reviewing the requirements. The new standard introduces criteria for senior management commitment, setting quality objectives, managing suppliers, labelling and packaging procedures, hygiene rules, transport procedures, sustainability and ethical trading standards. As well as introducing new requirements we have reviewed the level of compliance moving a number of criteria from minor to major, which will make the inspection more challenging to pass. The order of the standard has been re-worked to follow a more logical flow and wording has been harmonised with the grower standard to assist members who are certificated to both standards. The Grower Standard will be released later in the year after it has been benchmarked to GLOBALGAP Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) Standard. To assist members to gain certification we have added technical guidance notes to the standard and will be providing a number of templates on the BOPP website.”

The BOPP standards are reviewed every three to four years and the release of the new Packhouse Standard is the result of almost twelve months work by the BOPP Management Committee to update the standard. The committee have worked closely with stakeholders, including UK multiple retailers and the inspectors, to ensure that the standard continues to meet the needs of the sector. The release of the standard will be accompanied by a toolbox of templates and guidance notes available to members only to assist them with meeting the requirements of the standard. Members will have three months from the release of the new standard to make the transition from version 4 to version 5.

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